Demonization and Idols

• Idolatry: Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols and warns against participating in such practices. Fish notes that while many churches today might consider this an irrelevant or old fashioned issue, it is still a significant concern, particularly in cultures where such practices are prevalent. He uses the example of the woman in Taiwan who was having digestive issues because she was eating food sacrificed to a Taoist idol.
• Participation with Demons: Fish quotes 1 Corinthians 10:20, where Paul warns against becoming “participants with demons” through partaking in meals dedicated to idols. He explains that when Christians knowingly eat meat sacrificed to a god, they are participating with demons.
• Table of the Lord and Table of Demons: According to Fish, Paul argues that Christians cannot partake of both the table of the Lord and the table of demons (1 Cor 10:21). He says that this is completely off limits, and yet many people do it all the time. He also notes that Christians cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.
• Provoking God’s Jealousy: Fish also notes that Paul says that partaking of both the table of the Lord and the table of demons provokes the jealousy of the Lord, similar to Old Testament idolatry.
• Other Ways of Demonization: Fish notes that earlier in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul lists other ways Christians can become demonized, including: Desiring evil, Idolatry, Sexual Immorality, Testing the Lord, Grumbling. (see verses 6-10).
• Syncretism: Fish notes that this issue is becoming more prevalent in society because of the increasing syncretism in culture, and because immigrants often bring their customs with them. He suggests that Christians should be aware of the origins of their food when eating in restaurants that may serve food dedicated to other gods, and that Christians should exercise caution when eating food from Halal carts or restaurants. He says he will not eat Halal food because he knows it has been dedicated to Allah, and he will not eat meat in Australia unless he knows it is not Halal
• Ignorance vs. Knowledge: The speaker says that Paul makes a distinction between knowingly eating food sacrificed to idols and doing so out of ignorance. He explains that if a person does not know the food has been sacrificed, they are not accountable, but they should pray over their food and give thanks. He equates this to “don’t ask, don’t tell.
• Relevance to Modern Church: Fish argues that 1 Corinthians 10 is highly relevant to the modern Church, despite the fact that many churches often ignore this passage. He suggests that these concepts are particularly important in the context of a multicultural society with different religious practices.

Implications for the Church:

• Awareness and Discernment: Christians should be aware of the potential for demonization through seemingly innocuous cultural practices, such as eating food from restaurants that dedicate it to other gods.
• Avoiding Syncretism: Fish argues that the Church should avoid syncretism and maintain a clear distinction between Christian practices and those of other religions. He suggests that Christians should be cautious when eating food from other cultures, because many foods are dedicated to idols.
• Addressing the Root Cause: Fish says that some Christians may be experiencing issues due to unknowingly participating in practices that have opened them up to demonic influence and that they may need deliverance to remove the demonic blockages from their lives. He references the story of the Taiwanese woman as an example of how this works.
• The Need for Deliverance: The speaker argues that the church needs to be aware of these issues and address the underlying causes of these issues through deliverance ministry. He suggests that there are things that people do or participate in that give demons legal right to attack them and bring disease into their lives.
• Food Allergies: Fish suggests that food allergies could be caused by eating food sacrificed to idols, such as Halal. He is humorous about his perspective on this topic and says he has “crosshairs” on the people who have eaten Halal food who have food allergies.

• Title: The Kingdom of God is a Message of Deliverance
• Speaker: Ken Fish
• Start Time: 52:45
• End Time: 59:38

Orbis Ministries – Link to Ken Fish’s Ministry material.